Tag: Biofuels

Energy access is a primer for any type economic development. Nowhere is energy access a greater challenge than in areas and regions where the population lives in poverty. As illustrated, bioenergy can deliver considerabl...

Studies indicate that global bioenergy use is approximately 10 percent of the global energy mix, with a growth rate of 1.3 percent per year. Future projections for the supply of bioenergy are shown in the figure. The ana...

Over the past few years a small energy revolution has taken place in the village of Bot Trang in northwest Cambodia. Bot Trang is not on Cambodia’s national grid: in the old days Mr. Tham Bun Hak, a local farmer, would s...

Gains and losses in forest area vary globally, and the impact divers greatly between the various crops used for biofuels. Forest-cover is enhanced through aorestation or by natural expansion, and reduced either by defor...

Biofuels have been criticised for causing food insecurity, but many other factors often play a far more significant role than biofuels. But rapid, largescale growth in biofuel production without sufficient safeguards doe...

This figure outlines possible scenarios for the impact
of biofuels on agricultural prices and food security.
Although there are several factors that affect agricultural prices, including seasonal variation, market spe...

Poor land tenure security due to lack of appropriate
rules and processes, and biofuels production
encroaching on land used by pastoralists or for
cultural purposes affect local livelihoods and
access to land, particu...

Recently Uganda has outlined its national strategy for bioenergy to contribute to increasing the renewable energy mix from 4 to 16 percent by 2017. Alongside the energy challenge, the country faces a number of other diff...

Recently Uganda has outlined its national strategy for
bioenergy to contribute to increasing the renewable energy
mix from 4 to 16 percent by 2017.
Several biofuel crops have been identified, including
sugarcane, m...

Recently Uganda has outlined its national strategy for
bioenergy to contribute to increasing the renewable energy
mix from 4 to 16 percent by 2017.
Several biofuel crops have been identified, including
sugarcane, m...

This figure indicates land requirements for biofuels production in response to current biofuels mandates. Depending on projected biofuels demand and available arable land, additional
land requirements may exceed a natio...

Land-use planning is one strategy to manage
competition for land and, at the same time, reduce
environmental and social impacts. Assessment of
land suitability and availability can identify both
high-risk areas where...

The negative consequences of iLUC have been hotly
debated. Recent debate has focused increasingly
on a pragmatic approach to reducing the need for
land, thereby reducing risks from direct and indirect
changes in land...

When assessing the sustainability of biofuels within
the context of conservation, comparison questions
are important. What else can the land be used for?
One option might be conservation, whereas another
might be for...

Converting land for biofuel production can cause
biodiversity impacts in the short-term, but such
conversion also aects the future resilience of natural
ecosystems. In an extreme case, complete deforestation
reduces...

The impacts of land conversion on biodiversity may
be significant. The degree of impact relates to many
factors, including where and how the bioenergy
product is cultivated. This figure represent the short-term impact...

Biofuels pose several environmental and social
risks. Therefore, to be truly a part of the green
economy, biofuels need to comply with a set of
safeguards along the entire production chain. Any
bioenergy development ...

The use of Genetically Engineered Crops (GECs)
carries both potential benefits and risks. While it is
recognised that they can help to introduce useful
traits and increase productivity, there are also
concerns about ...